Emergency ignition switch



April 18, 1939- w. A. MUELLER. sR

EMERGENCY IGNITION SWITCH Filed June 4, 1937 zyJ.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims. (Cl. 20o-52) This invention relates to an emergency ignition switch.

The object o! this invention is to instantly open the low tension portion of the ignition circuit in case the motor vehicle is` crashed from any direction or tipped over, and thus preventing a ruptured high tension circuit from igniting gasoline which might have been sprayed over the engine because of the crash.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an emergency ignition switch which can be manufactured at a comparatively low expense, and which is highly efficient in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of an emergency ignition switch actuated by a combination of tipping to a predetermined angle and a shock from any horizontal direction by entirely removing a contacting means from, both contacted surfaces, which contacted surfaces are suitably connected by wires to the ignition circuit only, and when said contacting means is once removed from its circuit closing position, the re-establishment of the completed vcircuit cannot be accomplished unless the device is actually manipulated by the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventioncomprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, while Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the device in position, after it has been upset, for returning the contacting means` or balls to the central or holding casing.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4, Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

l Referring to the drawing, in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I designates a sliding outer or primary casing, while 2 is the inner holder or auxiliary casing. The primary casing I is provided with a closed outer end 3, and its inner end is partly closed by a thick detachable annular bottom 4. The bottom 4 is held within the primary casing by means of screws 5. 'Ihe top of bottom 4 is dished, as at 6, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The auxiliary casing comprises an outer shell I and an inner shell 8. The outer shell 'I is preferably integral with the disc-like plate 9. Plate 9 is provided with aI depending sleeve I0. 'I'he outer shell l and the inner shell 8 are insulated yvided with an annular groove I1.

by means of an annular insulator II. Within the inner shell B and spaced a suitable distance from its bottom is a cup or pan I2. An annular insulator I3 insulates pan I2 from inner shell 8. The contacting means I4 I have preferably illustrated as balls; this means I4 closes the circuit .between pan I2 and inner shell 8. Wire I5 is connected at its inner end to pan I2 while wire I6 is connected at its inner end to shell 8; this connection is shown in Figure l as being between the bottom of inner shell 8 and pan I2.

Outer shell l, of the auxiliary holder 2,k is pro- An aperture I8 is formed in the annular bottom 4 and registers with groove I1. In aperture I8 is a sliding plug I9 and a screw-threaded plug 2li. Between plugs I9 and 20 is coil spring 2|. This spring holds the inner end of sliding plug I9 normally in groove Il, whereby the primary casing I is normally held in its set position, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The screw plug 20 not only serves to hold the coil spring 2| in position, but by threading plug 20 in or out, the tension on the spring can be regulated, whereby greater or less pressure will be exerted upon plug I9, for holding it in groove I1.

At the inner edge of the dished or bevelled portion 6 of the bottom 4 there is formed anannular socket 22 in which the annular flange 23, on the upper end of outer shell l, is normally positioned. The upper end oi insulator II is bevelled, which together with flange 23 forms an ideal passage for the balls I4, when the device has been upset and the balls are out of and around the auxiliary casing, and the outer casing has been slid to the position shown in Figure 2, for replacing the balls in their normal position within the auxiliary casing.

'I'he ilexible post device 24 comprises an inner tightly-coiled spring 25, having at its upper end a fixed head 26 (Fig. 1), which head 26 extends into sleeve IIJ and is locked in this position by set screw 2l. A rubber sleeve 28 is securely fastened on the lower end of inner spring 25. The insulated wires I 5 and I6 extend through this sleeve l28 and inner'coil spring 25, into the stationary auxiliary casing 2. A metallic sleeve 29 is placed on inner spring 25. On sleeve 29 is positioned clamp 30, which clamp 30 comprises a surrounding sleeve 3| terminating in parallel extensions 32 and 33. Bolt 34 is on extensions 32 and 33, whereby the clamp is held securely on sleeve 29. Pivotally mounted at 35 is bracket 36; this bracket 36 may be placed on the steering column 3l (dotted lines Fig. l) and by means of bolt 38, the bracket is securely held in position. Above clamp 30 and partly on sleeve 29 and inner spring 25, is upper spring 39, and on sleeve 29 and spring 25, below clamp 30, is lower outer spring 40. This double spring arrangement, 39 and 40, is for the purpose of providing means for absorbing a vertical shock in the event the device or switch is carried by a rough riding truck over a rough road which would possibly operate the device under the ordinary movement of said truck.

In case of a shock from any direction, owing to the flexible supporting post device 24, the entire switch receives a violent swing, which throws the balls or contacting means I 4 out of the inner or auxiliary casing, thus breaking the contact between the cup or pan I2 and the inner shell 8. When the switch is to be restored to its normal working condition all the operator has to do is to grip the primary casing I and slide it up on the inner casing 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the balls will readily roll back into the inner or auxiliary casing, and then the operator can shove the primary casing down against plate 9, causing the plug I9 to engage annular groove I1, whereby the device will be restored to its normal set or operative position.

It is to be understood that this emergency ignition switch will be actuated by a combination of tipping to a predetermined angle and a shock from any horizontal direction, resulting in entirely removing the balls I4 from both contacting surfaces, and when the balls have been removed to outside of the auxiliary casing, the circuit cannot be re-established unless the switch is manipulated by the operator. It is also to be understood that a motor vehicle may have the device 'thereon, and this motor vehicle may crash and turn over, and then land in an upright position, but by reason of the crash and said movement of the motor vehicle, the circuit to my switch would still remain broken. It is also to be clearly understood that this switch is applied to the ignition circuit only, and not the network of motor vehicle circuits. In the ignition circuit is the only potential danger for fire in case of crash, since the voltage is extremely high, while in all other circuits of a motor vehicle the voltage is relatively low.

Should a motor vehicle receive a minimum shock sufiicient to break the circuit while on a public highway at night, if an emergency switch were to cut the entire network of circuits the lights would be extinguished, which would not only jeopardize the occupants of said motor vehicle, but would create a hazard to other motorists who might be approaching said motor vehicle. This would not occur if my switch was used, for the motor vehicle would be safeguarded against fire, without extinguishing the lights of the motor vehicle.

Further this switch can be constructed of any preferred size, any suitable material may be used to prevent noise of the rolling element (balls Il) and the body or exterior portion of the device may be suitably designed or ornamented, as well as the contacting parts can be made-of non-corroding and non-oxidizing material.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention and have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawing, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of an auxiliary casing provided on its outer face with an annular groove, a primary casing provided with an annular bottom slidably mounted on said auxiliary casing, said bottom provided with an aperture registering with said annular groove, a spring-pressed plug in said aperture and normally seated in said annular groove, and balls in said auxiliary casing and being adapted to be received by said primary casmg.

2. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of an auxiliary casing provided on its outer end with a flange, a primary casing provided with a bottom slidably mounted on said auxiliary casing, said bottom provided with a socket adapted to receive the ilange on the outer end of said auxiliary casing, said auxiliary'casing provided with contacted surfaces, and balls in said auxiliary casing and against said contacted surfaces.

3. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of an auxiliary casing provided on its outer end with an annular outwardly extending flange, a primary casing provided with a bottom slidably mounted on said auxiliary casing, said bottom being dished on its inner face and terminating at the inner edge of said dished portion in an annular flange-receiving socket, whereby said flange on the outer end of the auxiliary casing is normally seated in said socket, said primary casing provided with contacted surfaces insulated from eachother, and balls `in said auxiliary casing and against said contacted surfaces.

4. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of an auxiliary casing comprising an outer shell terminating at the bottom in a horizontal plate, an inner shell provided with a bottom within said outer shell, an insulator around said inner shell and against the inner face of said cuter shell, a pan within said inner shell spaced above its bottom, an insulator around said pan and against the inner face of said inner shell, a wire electrically connected at its inner end to said pan, a wire electrically connected at its inner end to said inner shell beneath said pan, balls normally in said inner shell and on said pan, and a slidably mounted primary casing Von said auxiliary casing and being adapted tofreceive said balls.

5. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of an auxiliary casing comprising an inner and an outer shell, insulating means between said shells, a pan within said inner shell, means insulating said pan from said inner shell, wires connected to said pan and said inner shell, a primary casing slidably mounted on said auxiliary casing, and removable contact means normally in said auxiliary casing and contacting said pan and inner shell.

6. In an emergency ignition switch, the combination of a flexible post device comprising a comparatively long tightly coiled inner spring, said spring provided on its inner end with a head, said spring provided on its out-er end with a rubber sleeve, a metallic sleeve on said spring, means engaging said metallic sleeve for fastening said post device to a support, an upper and a lower` spring at opposite sides -of said post fastening means and positioned on said firstmentioned spring, an auxiliary casing fastened WILLIAM A. MUELIER. SR. 

